817 research outputs found
Application of Analog Adaptive Filters for Dynamic Sensor Compensation
No full textThis paper investigates the application of analog adaptive techniques to the area of dynamic sensor compensation, of which there is little reported work in the literature. The case is illustrated by showing how the response of a load cell can be improved to speed up the process of measurement. The load cell is a sensor with an oscillatory output in which the measurand contributes to the response parameters. Thus, a compensation filter needs to track variation in measurand whereas a simple, fixed filter is only valid at one specific load value. To facilitate this investigation, computer models for the load cell and the adaptive compensation filter have been developed. To allow a practical implementation of the adaptive techniques, a novel piecewise linearization technique is proposed in order to vary a floating voltage-controlled resistor in a linear manner over a wide range. Simulation and practical results are presented, thus demonstrating the effectiveness of the proposed techniques
Etude, conception et réalisation d'un capteur de micro et nano-forces. Application à la mesure d'élasticité des ovocytes.
No full textIn the microrobotic field, the handling of small objects is needed. In order to characterize interactions in the considered working dimensions, force measurements is necessary. Accordingly, we developed a force sensor which uses a passive magnetic levitation principle. Thus, we did not need control loop to ensure the levitation. Total dimensions of the sensor did not exceed a volume of 170 mm x 100 mm x 60 mm. The sensor is formed of a polymeric material leg, being used as effector, on which two permanent magnets are fixed. The leg unit and permanent magnets levitate between two graphite plates using a particular configuration of magnetic bearing. Force measurements with the developed sensor can be done mainly along three directions. The use of this sensor makes it possible to perform force measurements in the range of a few tens of nanonewton (nN) to several milliNewton (mN) with a nanNewton resolution. Both of the magnetic and diamagnetic modeling make it possible to calculate forces according to the position of the suspended magnets. This sensor is currently used for determination of the mechanical characteristics of human cells such as oocyte. This work is undertaken in close cooperation with fertilization team of the CHU of Besançon.Dans le domaine de la microrobotique, la manipulation d'objets de petites tailles (micromécanismes, cellules, etc...) est courante. Afin de caractériser les interactions aux dimensions de travail considérées, la mesure de force en microrobotique est nécessaire. Dans cette optique, nous avons développé un capteur de forces qui repose sur un principe de lévitation magnétique passive et ne nécessitant pas d'asservissement pour assurer la lévitation. Les dimensions globales du capteur n'excèdent pas un volume total de 170 mm x 100 mm x 60 mm. Le capteur est composé d'une tige en matériau polymère, servant d'effecteur, sur laquelle sont fixés deux aimants permanents. L'ensemble tige et aimants permanents lévite entre deux plaques de graphite à l'aide d'une configuration particulière d'aimants porteurs. La mesure de force avec le capteur développé peut se faire principalement suivant trois directions. L'utilisation de ce capteur permet de couvrir une plage de mesure deforce allant de quelques dizaines de nanonewton (nN) à plusieurs milliNewton (mN) avec une résolution de mesure de l'ordre du nanoNewton (nN). Les modèles magnétiques et diamagnétique développés permettent de déterminer les forces qui s'appliquent sur l'effecteur par le biais de la connaissance de la position spatiale de la tige. En terme applicatif, le capteur de forces est actuellement utilisé pour la détermination des caractéristiques mécaniques de cellules humaines de type ovocyte. Ce travail est mené en étroite collaboration avec l'équipe de fécondation in vitro du CHU de Besançon
Branding the 'Beur' Author Minority Writing and the Media in France
No full textThis book reconsiders authorship by the descendants of North African immigrants to France by consulting how these authors' novels have been discussed and promoted in the national audio-visual media.Cover -- Contents -- Acknowledgements -- List of Illustrations -- 1. Authorship at a Crossroads -- 2. Mehdi Charef and the Invention of Beur Writing -- 3. Competing Visions of Minority Authorship -- 4. Eyewitness Narratives and the Creation of the Beurette -- 5. Rachid Djaïdani and the Shift from Beur to Banlieue Writing -- 6. Revising the Beurette Label -- 7. Sabri Louatah and the Collectif Qui Fait la France? -- Works Cited -- IndexThis book reconsiders authorship by the descendants of North African immigrants to France by consulting how these authors' novels have been discussed and promoted in the national audio-visual media.Description based on publisher supplied metadata and other sources.Electronic reproduction. Ann Arbor, Michigan : ProQuest Ebook Central, YYYY. Available via World Wide Web. Access may be limited to ProQuest Ebook Central affiliated libraries
A new, 3D overlapping-sphere model of cell adhesion:
No full textCell adhesion refers to the ability of cells to make enduring and dynamic attachments to extracellular surfaces and to each other; rightly so it is a focal point of current biological research. I have designed a computational framework to model cell adhesion using a modified overlapping-sphere model. A core feature of the model is the three-dimensional representation of a cell surface that can interact mechanically with its environment. The generalization of a cell as a sphere gives our model the compactness to enable the simulations of thousands of cells, comparable to the number of cells typically encountered through small scale studies of early development and disease. Specifically, we use this computational framework to model adhesion between cells in a monolayer and a fibrous environment, cell shape change, as well as cell replication. We also include elements of cell orientation, or cell polarity, and touch on some aspects of mechanical feedback. We explore some general aspects of developmental biology as well as cancer in mammary ducts. Although we emphasize epithelial cells, which are cells that form monolayers, we also briefly consider migratory cells. The major results are that (1) Cells in a monolayer, like sheets and tubes, need to be both mobile and well-connected to adapt to mechanically stresses, (2) Cells that are not polarized do not produce a stable monolayer of cells, (3) Extracellular support, like a basement membrane, can minimize the stresses experienced at cell-cell junctions, (4) Mitosis triggered by tension can help maintain a monolayer of cells, (5) Cell shape needs to be incorporated into models to minimize undesirable stresses, (6) Our computational framework is useful to predict behavior of cells subjected to mechanical forces. As this is a new model, results are chiefly qualitative, and suggest future work in collaboration with experimentalists to verify and quantitate our results.M.S.Includes bibliographical references (p. 79-81)by Mehdi Doum
Correction: Synthesis and characterization of a new ZIF-67@MgAl 2 O 4 nanocomposite and its adsorption behaviour
No full textPublisher Copyright: © 2021 The Royal Society of Chemistry.The authors regret that an incorrect affiliation was given for co-author Mehdi Bazarganipour in the original article. The correct affiliations are as shown here. The Royal Society of Chemistry apologises for these errors and any consequent inconvenience to authors and readers
RETHINKING INDUSTRIAL POLICY
No full textDespite the hold of the neoliberal orthodoxy on policy making in developing countries, industrial policy remains important for the promotion of industrial development. However, the context for the design of industrial policy has profoundly changed as a result of new rules governing international trade, the rise of global value chains and marketing networks, and other aspects of globalization. Traditionally, the case for industrial policy has been framed in terms of “market failures” but the paper argues that that is not a sufficient basis. After addressing the traditional points of criticism, an attempt is made to outline the “domains” of industrial policy in the current circumstances, especially for industrially lagging countries. As country contexts differ widely there are no satisfactory blueprints for policy making that countries can readily adopt. As in production decisions, considerable ingenuity and innovation is needed in designing policies. This is all the more necessary as the WTO rules have become increasingly stringent and the rise of international trading networks has created new barriers for young firms to enter the world market. These developments have changed the context but not the importance of policy in industrial development. The paper identifies areas where government intervention is needed and can still make a positive difference.
Higher education in Oregon's prisons: measures of access, equity and excellence in practice
No full textresearch team: Maya Lazaro, Jove Rousseau, Fatima Mehdi, James Conway.Title from PDF cover (viewed on November 3, 2021)."2021 Masters of Public Administration Capstone Research."This archived document is maintained by the State Library of Oregon as part of the Oregon Documents Depository Program. It is for informational purposes and may not be suitable for legal purposes.Includes bibliographical references (pages 30-32).Mode of access: Internet from the Oregon Government Publications Collection.Text in English
Application of the extended discrete element method (XDEM) in the melting of a single particle
No full textIn this contribution, a new method referred to as Extended Discrete Element Method (XDEM) is usedto model melting of a single particle in the fluid media. The XDEM as a Lagrangian-Eulerian framework is the extension of Discrete Element Method (DEM) by considering thermodynamic state such as temperature distribution and is able to link with Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) for fluid phase. In order to provide more accurate results, multiscale method was used. The model is validated by comparing predicted results with existing experimental data for melting of a single ice particle in a water bath. In addition, the model has the capability to be extended to the packed bed of particles with different size and properties to produce different liquid phases
A RE-EXAMINATION OF THE ARCHITECTURE OF THE INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC SYSTEM IN A GLOBAL SETTING: ISSUES AND PROPOSALS
No full textThe globalization of the world economy poses major challenges to the prevailing international economic system. The recent trade-investment system raises the issues of the marginalization of countries, firms, and agents if they are not capable to compete with large successful entities. The system engenders conflicts of interest in its interfacing with sovereign domains. In numerous cases such as employment and mutual trade benefits, it can produce zero sum outcomes. Consequently, significant segments of public opinion in many countries have mobilized against it. In the monetary and financial area, the system has from 1945 evolved on a piecemeal and ad hoc basis. In recent years, it has not been able to predict, prevent or effectively deal with financial crisis. It demonstrates a lacuna in global financial governance especially with respect to enforcing its rules on the major countries and bringing the private sector therein. The central institution, the IMF, is shown to be in need of basic reforms involving forging a global vision, reconsidering and updating conditionality, further democratization of political governance, and revamping the exchange rates and surveillance functions.
Design and Study of a Smart Cup for Monitoring the Arm and Hand Activity of Stroke Patients
No full textInternational audienceThis paper presents a new platform to monitor the arm and hand activity of stroke patientsduring rehabilitation exercises in the hospital and at home during their daily living activities. The platformprovides relevant data to the therapist in order to assess the patients physical state and adapt the rehabilitationprogram if necessary. The platform consists of a self-contained smart cup that can be used to perform exercisesthat are similar to everyday tasks such as drinking. The first smart cup prototype, the design of which wasbased on interviews regarding the needs of therapists, contains various sensors that collect information aboutits orientation, the liquid level, its position compared to a reference target and tremors. The prototype alsoincludes audio and visual displays that provide feedback to patients about their movements. Two studies werecarried out in conjunction with healthcare professionals and patients. The first study focused on collectingfeedback from healthcare professionals to assess the functionalities of the cup and to improve the prototype.Based on this paper, we designed an improved prototype and created a visualization tool for therapists. Finally,we carried out a preliminary study involving nine patients who had experienced an ischemic or hemorrhagicstroke in the previous 24 months. This preliminary study focused on assessing the usability and acceptabilityof the cup to the patients. The results showed that the cup was very well accepted by eight of the nine patientsin monitoring their activity within a rehabilitation center or at home. Moreover, these eight patients had almostno concerns about the design of the cup and its usability
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